Sports kit
Items described as RGS items are unique to the school and must be obtained from our suppliers
- All RGS/Castore sports kit items are supplied online by Kitlocker. Our sports' kit requirements are available below. If you have any queries please contact Kitlocker support here.- All RGS main uniform items are supplied online by Schoolblazer. Our uniform requirements are available here.
All articles of uniform and sports' kit must be clearly marked with the owner's name.
Don’t forget, we have a range of excellent quality, second-hand uniform and sports' kit available from our Threadaware shop which is especially ideal for spare items.
If in any doubt about any item of clothing, please contact us via communications@rgs.newcastle.sch.ukor call the school office on 0191 281 8955 and we will be happy to help.
Our approach to school uniform and sports kit
Our wish is for our students to wear the RGS uniform and sports kit with a sense of pride and feeling of belonging to our community, whilst being comfortable. To enhance this, we have amended our uniform and sports kit code to offer a greater freedom of choice, removing gendered language, description, or prescription, so students can feel they can choose from the whole “buffet” of options. Mrs Sarah Longville, Deputy Head (Pastoral) explains our approach in the video to the right.
Although we use gender neural language in our descriptions, our sports' kit supplier, Kitlocker, use a sizing system, based on men's (M cut) and women's (W cut) sizing. If you select the size guide on any of the products you will see measurements, but we remind students and parents that they are able to choose the most comfortable fit, as long as students are wearing the correct item for each type of sport (see kit lists below).
Sports' kit lists
We are excited to share with parents more details about the new RGS sport kit being introduced from September 2022. Below is the new sport kit list, with an indication of what is mandatory and what is optional kit for Juniors, Seniors and Sixth Form. As we explained in our previous communication, our aim is to minimise any changes to the kit, as we are conscious that the PlayerLayer branded kit is high quality and we expect it to remain in circulation until your child has outgrown it. Parents will notice some changes in the fabric of the new kit, as RGS Castore kit is based on breathable fabric. So some items do feel lighter, but this is to support sports performance and students are encouraged to layer up if they need extra warmth.
Another change that you will see, is that we have reduced the differences between Junior School and Senior School sport kit, as we do not want parents to feel they need to replace kit which still fits when students move from Y6 to Y7. We are also conscious that students are all gloriously unique in shape and size, so you will hopefully find ordering kit more straightforward from one stock list.
Ordering arrangements
Our new supplier Kitlocker/Castore are storing two years of kit so previous supply demands will hopefully be resolved and they aim to fulfil orders within five days. We are confident that you will not be disappointed with the items and feedback from students is that they are excited to wear Castore branded clothing. The price of individual items of kit varies slightly to the Dreamsport/PlayerLayer kit (some items are slightly more, some are less) but we have negotiated the costs so that the overall cost remains equivalent to the old kit.
Threadaware
We are expecting PlayerLayer kit to be in circulation for some time, so please do continue to donate outgrown kit to Threadaware (items can be dropped at either Junior or Senior School receptions), for other parents to purchase with all proceeds going to the RGS Bursary Campaign. If your child is representing a first team squad at an external fixture, we would prefer them to wear the new Castore kit from September 2022, but we will have items to loan first team students who do not yet have any of the Castore items.
For all students
Footwear
Trainers or gym shoes with non marking soles are needed for use in the Sports Hall and summer sports. Please no expensive fashion trainers. All trainers must have adequate support.
Students playing football and rugby will need boots with moulded sole or screw-in studs. All screw-in studs must comply with British Standards for safety. We recommend football boots as they are suitable for both rugby and football. No studs are permitted on the Astro Turf Pitch (ATP).
Safety equipment
Shin guards are compulsory for hockey and football.
Traditionally we had a specialist dentist in at the start of term to fit new and/or replacement mouthguards. Just before we ended term, we were contacted by the dentist to let us know that they had unfortunately stopped trading. Sadly we have had no opportunity to seek and appoint a new dentist, and therefore can’t offer the service. A gumshield can be purchased from a sports shop, or your own dentist may also be able to help.
Personal sports’ equipment
Personal cricket bats and hockey sticks can be brought to school for match play (for safety reasons they are not allowed to be used during playtime).
General questions and answers
- What is the difference between games and PE, why are you referring to gender and why does my child need different kit?
- My child doesn’t identify with a specific gender, what kit will they need?
- I have a son who is enjoying netball club, what should he wear?
- I have a daughter who is enjoying rugby club, what should she wear?
- What shorts or skort do I need?
- Why does my child need different types of socks?
- I’ve noticed that the white PE top no longer exists on the list and it’s been replaced by a red PE top.
- I’ve noticed you’ve added two options of track pant, why?
- You’ve added more options for swimwear, why?
- Do I need the optional base layers?
- What about specialist kit for other sports?
- What should I do with any outgrown PlayerLayer kit?
- My child is pestering me for all the brand new items, I feel pressure to replace everything for September.
- Where can I buy an RGS branded Chilli water bottle or RGS beanie hat?
What is the difference between games and PE, why are you referring to gender and why does my child need different kit?
My child doesn’t identify with a specific gender, what kit will they need?
I have a son who is enjoying netball club, what should he wear?
I have a daughter who is enjoying rugby club, what should she wear?
What shorts or skort do I need?
Why does my child need different types of socks?
I’ve noticed that the white PE top no longer exists on the list and it’s been replaced by a red PE top.
I’ve noticed you’ve added two options of track pant, why?
You’ve added more options for swimwear, why?
Do I need the optional base layers?
What about specialist kit for other sports?
What should I do with any outgrown PlayerLayer kit?
My child is pestering me for all the brand new items, I feel pressure to replace everything for September.
Where can I buy an RGS branded Chilli water bottle or RGS beanie hat?
Junior School specific questions
- I’ve noticed that you have added a mandatory weatherproof contact top, and removed the mandatory rain jacket, do I have to buy the contact top?
- Does the quarter zip top replace the PlayerLayer ‘midlayer’?
- Why have you added a padded bench jacket?
I’ve noticed that you have added a mandatory weatherproof contact top, and removed the mandatory rain jacket, do I have to buy the contact top?
Does the quarter zip top replace the PlayerLayer ‘midlayer’?
Why have you added a padded bench jacket?
Senior School specific questions
- Should I buy the rain jacket or weatherproof contact top?
- Should I buy a quarter zip top or a hoodie?
- What is the training printed tee for?
- My child is joining the Sixth Form from another school, what do they need?